SMV .A chance meeting

Nope, not this one either. Maeve sighed as she got up from yet another keyboard, pushing herself off the bench and wandering toward the next one. While her setup in her room was already pretty good, she was hoping to get a new keyboard that has a wider array of software instruments, to make composing orchestral pieces easier. And the horn sections on the one she had just sounded like something out of an old timey cartoon…

”Alroit, le’s see if fifth toime’s th’ charm…” She grumbled, before plopping down on the bench of this new one and started playing “Sing Sing Sing”, already smiling to herself when she found that this keyboard had a damn good trumpet setting. Maeve bobbed her head to the tempo, getting into the melody and adding her own twist to the already swinging song.

Rin had found herself browsing the Music room like she was usually keen to do. She was looking for something new to change her mood. Until she heard something that caught her attention, it was fast paced and she could feel the excitement of the music to her bones, it made her want to jump up and dance! She could feel whoever was playing this, knew their way around the music world. She needed to see who was playing this amazing vibrant music!

She roamed the room till she came across a striking brunette playing the keyboard fully into the moment.

Maeve grinned, her fingers dancing across the keys as she played. Dimly she heard footsteps approach as she played, but she didn’t pay them any mind; she was far too absorbed in the song. She tapped a button on the control panel, and the blaring horns were joined by a heavy jazz percussion. One more tap and the sound became a bit sharper, like someone was playing around with a muter on the trumpets. It was almost like listening to a Big Band record on a Victrola player.

“When the music comes around,

Jus join in with your own sound

Here’s the thing you need to know:

Just make it all up as you go!” She sang along, her voice low and a bit raspy, almost perfectly complimenting the jazzy tone of the piece.

 

Rin hummed along with the music softly, hoping that it would never end. The music was very uplifting and soothing to her and she did not want to interrupt this delightful show.

Maeve finished the song with a flourish, sinking back on the bench and admittedly grinning like an  idiot. Then she noticed that she wasn't alone and the humming she’d heard wasn't in her head. She jumped a little, before sheepishly smiling over at Rin.

“Oh! Hallo there! Eheh, sorry, did yeh want t’ use th’ heyboard?” Wait, why did this girl look familiar…?

“No. I’m sorry..I just really liked your music. I hope I didn't intrude it just seemed so alive!” she said as she quickly looked up then down and fiddled with her fingers.

Maeve smiled, shaking her head. She leaned back slightly on the bench, looking Rin over. She just couldn't quite seem to place her…

“Nah, not a’ all! I don’ moind playin’ fer a willin’ audience.” She laughed, shrugging. “T’be honest, I don’ usually jazz er Swing music much, so I guess I went a bit ovahboard.”

“Ah, so that’s what it called! I’m going to definitely bring this back to my home world, we don’t have anything like this over there. I’m going to bring this back home for sure!”

“Again sorry for not announcing my presence” she said sheepishly.

Maeve laughed and waved her hand dismissively.

“Don’ worry none, luv. Yeh’d think I’d get used t’it by now!” She smiled and sat forward on the bench again, poising her fingers over the keys. “Well, in tha’ case, d’yeh want me t’ play somethin’ else fer yeh?”

Rin pulled out her sheet music and looked down nervously and made a motion as if she were going to pass it to her than dropped her hand back down to her side.

“Well..I..uh..if you're up for it. I would like to hear how you would play this. It’s somewhat of a ballad, I hope you don’t find it weird.”

Maeve tipped her head slightly, standing up and going over Rin. “Sure, I’ll take a look. D’yeh want it true t’ th’ sheet or me own spin on it?”

“I’d like to see how’d you do it. You put so much fire into your music, it makes me feel like you could really make this song sound as it should.” She said blushing hoping she didn't sound overly sweet.

“Heh, no pressure.” Maeve smiled, gently taking sheets from Rin’s hand. She glanced over the them, humming quietly. It seemed like a ballad that turned into a rousing anthem…Hmm, what to do with this? An arrangement already started forming in her head as she sat back down at the keys. It looked like it could work with a basic jazz chord rhythm, and if she just changed a couple of notes here…

Her Fingers started sweeping across the keys as she changed the instrumentation back to a piano, with a soft string section backing it. A gentle melody issued from the speakers, growing in strength and power until it was a bright, almost inspiring anthem. Maeve smiled to herself as she settled into a melody once again, occasionally glancing over from the sheets to Rin to try and gauged how she was doing.

Rin was awestruck as she watched the girls hand moved over the keys, gliding effortlessly and swiftly belting out the music. She felt herself being motivated, listening to the song as it brought out her inner strength. She didn't have the talent for instruments, and it had been so long since she last heard this song. She couldn't help herself and began to sing!

Rin began to sing the chorus for the song in her native alien language, her voice coming out clear as a bell and so amazingly beautiful.

Maeve blinked, nearly missing a note when Rin began to sing. That voice—Wait!! That was the girl that Aine had found a while ago! Then—It’s so nice to hear her sing again..Aine’s voice held a smile as she started to wake up. Maeve sighed inwardly. Dammit, and she’d been enjoying the time without having the Fae’s voice in her head…But Rin’s voice was truly amazing with such an interesting quality to it…Wait, why’m I thinkin’ bout tha’? Ter’s voice is brill too.. Maeve’s inner conflict began to show in the melody, the notes coming a bit harder than she had been playing them before.

Rin’s voice faltered a little as she felt the notes shift slightly harder in a way she wasn't expecting.” Is everything all right? Did my singing get in the way? Please don’t stop playing, it sounds so wondrous.” She said as she took a step closer to Maeve but instantly retracted.

“What am I doing? I shouldn't be acting this way, not when I’m thinking about Aine.” She thought disappointingly as Maeve was a looker.

“ But she is a nice girl. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get to know her?Besides Aine has been ignoring me anyway.” she thought playfully.

Maeve jumped, flubbing a few notes. She blushed in embarrassment and tried again, shaking her head to herself. “Sorry, jus’..” Should she explain herself? No, that wasn't necessary. “It wannit yer singin’, jus got a bit on me moind’s all.” Aine snorted. You are a terrible liar. Gee, I wonder why? Her tone was mocking. Maeve did her best to keep her expression neutral, so as not to confuse Rin, when all she wanted to do was flip off her reflection to give Aine the message. Shut up Aine!

“Well if you ever need a hand or someone to talk to, I can always help if you like. Oh..by the way my name is Rin.” She said as she dipped into a curtsy and flipped her hair back over her shoulder as she stood up. “Now that I got a better look at her, she’s very beautiful. Very edgy, very different…” she thought as she eyed Maeve over.

Maeve smiled, finishing off the piece, but leaving the last note unresolved. The song seemed to want that treatment. She stood as well. “Me name’s Maeve. Noice t’ finally meet yeh, Rin! I’ve heard a lot about yeh from Siobhan.” She held out a hand to the older girl, grinning. “Yeh don’ have t’ curtsy, it’s jus a music store, silly. In fact, yeh’re good wi’ jus’ shakin’ people’s hands.”

“Shake hands?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face. “I guess there are still some customs I’m going to have to learn.” She said smiling. “ You know Siobhan? So glad to meet a friend of her! I guess that means we should get to be friends huh?!” she said excitedly.

“Heh maybe jus’ a tad. Here, loike this.” She reached over ad took Rin’s hand, pumping it up and down a couple of times. For all that she petite, Maeve’s hand was a bit rough to the touch, callused from years of carpentry work and playing violin. Her skin was surprisingly warm. “Well I wannit planning’ on makin’ yeh me enemy!” Maeve teased, winking at Rin.

Rin was thrown off by the gesture, and surprised how nice her hand fit into Maeve’s. She felt it rough but it felt safe, warm, and protected. She tried to think of a quick comeback, but the feelings she was getting from this girl overwhelmed her,

Instead her face grew a rosy hue as she stammered with what to say next. “So..uh..I..uh how long have you been at SMV?

Maeve tipped her head slightly, dropping Rin’s hand. She clasped her hands behind her back instead, shrugging. “Since last summah, apparently ‘round roit when it opened. Wot’ ‘bout yerself?”

“Just got here recently, I met Siobhan right after and another girl named Aine. Other than that I've kept to myself, kinda of nervous of being around people.” She giggled slightly embarrassed she revealed so much to her after they just meet.

“Yeh don’ need t’b nervous! Trust me, some’a th’ people here moit look scary, but they’re sweet. Loike Al an’ Bell! Those two are bloody giants,but they’re brill t’ be around.” She laughed. “ Although Al does tend t’ accidentally crush yeh when she hugs yeh, so be careful ‘bout that’.”Maeve tipped her head, thinking, then started digging through her bag. “ Where’d I put—ah!” She pulled out a slightly crumpled flier, advertising an upcoming show for Serenity’s Sirens. “ If yeh’d want t’ meet some new people, th’ band I’m in’s got’ a show comin’ up in a coupl’a weeks. Yeh should come!” She chose not to react to Rin’s mention of Aine.

“Well you make them sound not all that bad!” she said as she laughed. “A show?! That sounds like a lot of fun! I’ll definitely be going!” she said as she excitedly grabbed the flyer and looked over it for all the details. “ I guess I’ll be okay as long as I stay in the back.”

Maeve grinned, stretching and settling a hand behind her head, absently scratching at the base of her cap. Her ears were getting itchy from being under the fabric for so long, but she didn't dare take it off. “ If yeh’d loike, yeh could chill wi’ Sib. She’ll be there fer certain, since she loves seein’ her outfits onstage an’ all. She designs our clothes fer th’ shows.” She paused, pursing her lips. “ Although, I jus’ hope yeh’ll loike th’ music we play. Th’ Sirens’re mostly a rock band, though we do a few othah styles as well through our set.” She looked Rin over a bit more closely.

“Inevah got a chance t’ say, yeh’ve got an amazin’ voice! D’yeh sing professionally?”

“ I guess Sib and I can enjoy the show together, while you girls rock out. I can’t wait it seems like so much fun!” she said as she could barley contain her squee of delight.

“I do sing a couple of performances a year, but I don’t consider myself as nearly as good, as the theater's last great singer, my grandmother. She was amazing Maeve! If only you could have heard her! That’s why I’m pretty sure there is someone out there better than me.” She said with modesty.

“Bettah singers out there’, she says. Rin, yeh’re a fockin’ amazin’ singer! An’ trust me, I don’ say tha’ lightly! If yeh’re doin’ a ton’ a shows back home, tha’ oughta tell yeh how good you are!!” Aine raised an eyebrow. Look at you, turning into a cheerleader. Did you hit your head? Yeh’d discourage her? No, of course I’d encourage her. Then yeh shouldn’ make fun’a me fer somethin’ yeh’d do yerself! For once, Aine didn’t respond. Maeve grinned to herself at her personal little victory.

 

Rin was so flattered by the girl's honesty she blushed a deep pink, and she couldn't help but think she looked so cute when she got worked up like that. But she mentally kicked herself reminding herself that she did like someone else, but this girl just seemed, well so kind and honest.
" I will I guess it couldn't hurt to maybe get my name out there, maybe I could show my culture and share it with everyone!" she said excitedly as she did a quick dance flourish and sidestepped in delight, right before acting like typical Rin and tripping over herself and right into Maeve.

"Ekkkkkkkkk!!!...."

"Whoa!" Maeve caught her, instinctively holding Rin close until she steadied herself. "Yeh alroit there?" She suddenly found herself blushing, realizing just how they were positioned. But, she couldn't bring herself to let go. Aine watched, dumbfounded. 

"Um..I guess I am now." she said as she looked up at Maeve, not really even caring that they were so close together. She couldn't explain it but she felt a connection with her, and she felt her insides getting all warm and butterflies in her stomach and her knees felt like jelly.
She could feel the tension in the air as neither said a word and hung in the stillness of the moment.

"Th--tha's good." Maeve breathed, just staring down at Rin. Why-- why did she feel like this? Like her entire body was buzzing? Her mismatched eyes locked with Rin's aqua ones as she found herself leaning down.

What do you think you're doing, Maeve? Aine growled, her energy growing. Maeve's eyes widened as she reeled back, yelping softly. She hastily helped Rin to her feet before taking a step back, hissing as Aine's fiery energy made sparks dance painfully over her skin. 

"S-sorry-- er--" She had no way to explain this.

 

" Are you all right?" she asked worried if she was okay, and a bit pulled back embarrassed thinking she had been too forward again.
" I was wondering if you would like to hang out again soon?" she asked hoping this odd eyed beauty would give her the pleasure of her company again. She took Maeve's hands and handed her, her music sheet, holding on to her hand a bit longer than necessary. " Here a gift from me to you, I hope you'll take it as a sign of our new friendship." she said smiling up at her.

 

"Th-thank yeh--" Oh God, how was she going to explain this? She blushed, taking hold of the sheet music, her hands tingling slightly from where Rin had held them. Why the hell was she reacting like this? She liked Teruko, so why--

Then it hit her. 

Rin reminded her of Teruko. 

Awkwaaaaaaard. Aine cackled, extremely amused by this whole situation. Well go on, are you going to answer her question?

Maeve flushed, forcing a smile. 

"Y-yeh, I'd loike tha'." She glanced at her watch. "Well, it innit tha' late. D'yeh want t' get somethin' t' eat'r somethin'?" The words are out of her mouth before she's realized just what she's said. She blushed even more, switching the sheet music to one hand and fiddling with her/Aine's pendant with the other.

" I..uh would like that very much." she said as she smiled cutely at Maeve with her eyes closed.
*Oh god what am I doing? What about Aine? But I'm not doing anything wrong am I? I'm just getting to know her, I mean there is an attraction, but I met Aine first. But I haven't seen her since our last date having a picnic. She seemed a bit distant since that night and hasn't quite been the same. Maybe she doesn't like me anymore.* She thought of all this in a split second and decided she would enjoy herself with Maeve.

 Maeve grabbed her bag and stowed the sheet music, before shrugging. 

"It's up t' yeh t' be honest. I loike explorin'." Maeve smiled sweetly at Rin, then felt the weight of the pendant around her neck. She'd have to tell Rin eventually, about Aine. But... How would she bring it up? This was such a strange situation... She followed Rin out of the music store, puzzling over it.

 

"All right then!" she said as she walked forward outside towards the cafe area of SMV. She couldn't help but admire Maeve's walk, she seemed to walk with a bit of spunk and edge and strength. It was something new and it definitely got her attention. But for some strange reason she thought she could feel Aine was close by, but she couldn't see her. She kept feeling she was being watched, but still not a red hair in sight!

 

Maeve glanced over, catching Rin looking at her. She blushed faintly. 

"So uh... Sorry, I'm really not tha' good at makin' conversation." She laughed sheepishly, fiddling with her cap.

 

Rin was delighted she was finally the one making someone else blush and not the other way around. She couldn't help but want to keep doing it more.
"Didn't you tell me I shouldn't be nervous?" she asked as she pointed at Maeve's fiddling.
"Come on I'll race you to the nearest cafe!" While grabbing Maeve's hands and spinning her around in a circle quickly before letting her go leaving her spinning in place, so she could get a head start.
*Laughing* "Come on and catch up now!"

 "Wha--" Maeve caught herself before she fell over after Rin spun her around. She laughed and charged after the girl, catching up quickly. She grinned and gave her a mock salute before sprinting past her and skidding to a halt in front of the café. But, in her rush to beat Rin, she didn't realize her cap had flown off, exposing her pointed ears. 

"Ha! Beat yeh, slowpoke!!" Maeve cheered, punching the air.

 Rin was closing in on Maeve when she saw her cap had flown off, she grabbed it in midair and kept on going, her only concern in beating Maeve. That was until she saw familiar pointy ears sticking out from under Maeve's hair.

"Oh my! Are you from Ireland like Aine! You both have the same ears?" she said excitedly hoping her new friends all knew each other and would all be able to hang out together.

 Maeve's hand flew up, realizing that she felt the air shifting through her hair. Her eyes locked on her cap, now in Rin's grasp, before she looked away, her shoulders slumping. 

"Yeh, I'm from Ireland as well, but... These thin's..." She sighed and shook her head. "It's a long story, but I didn' used t' have pointy ears. I used t'look human." She laughed bitterly. "An' then this shit happened. Would'a been perfectly happy jus' goin' 'bout loife as a normal girl, but accourse tha' doesn'a happen."

 

"I think your ears look cute." she said as she gently placed the cap back on Maeve' head pulling it down slightly as she slightly brushed her right hand against Maeve's ear. 
" You seem upset about it though, does this means there are more than one race on your world? she asked not quite understanding what Maeve meant about not being a normal human girl. 
"Besides the best thing about life is the unexpected." she said full of hopeful optimism.

 

"Thanks..." Maeve mumbled, fidgeting with the brim of the cap and tucking her ears back underneath it. She looked up at Rin, her eyes unreadable. "There're at least a few dif'rent races from wot I know. Mostly humans-- and tha's all they know, jus' themselves-- but there's also th' Fair Folk, an' those dif'rent types. Aine's a Sidhe-- th' Irish Fae, an' apparently I'm half-Seelie-- th' Scottish kind." She sighed, playing with her long braid. 

"I... I only found out recently 'bout tha', so... tha's why I'm kinda touchy 'bout me ears, yeh know? I always thought I was normal, then I came here an'... yeah..." She shook her head, forcing a smile as she looked back up at Rin. "Sorry, I don' mean t' drop all this on yeh when I jus' met yeh..."

 

Rin tried to absorb all this information, but the poor girl is easily confused. So she just kinda of stood there smiling and nodding her head.
"I'm not going to lie coming here really showed how different the universe is to me. Meeting you has been an honor and I like you just the way you are." she said being sweet and really wanting to comfort her.
" Come on, let's get something sweet. My treat." she said as she winked at Maeve, brushing very close past her on purpose trying to get her to lighten up by being a little flirt.

 "Um-- thanks--" Maeve blushed, unsure of just how to react here. Why did it feel like her own feelings were mixing with Aine's here...? The Fae watched warily, intrigued and yet displeased by how Rin was reacting. While she wanted Rin to be happy... The shadowy madness that had been clouding her mind so often as of late wanted to have Rin all to herself. 

This was getting so confusing, for both of them. 

Maeve followed Rin into the cafe, grinning and intentionally bumping against the girl's shoulder lightly. 

"Alroit, if yeh insist. I'm payin' next toime though, yeh?" She plopped down at a table, dropping her bag next to her. "So, yeh're from a completely dif'rent planet, yeh? Must be weird bein' 'ere then!" 

 "Well not so much, helps that I'm not the only one here from a different planet. I don't go often out of my room, so haven't really met too many of the people here..." she said as she sat down looking out the window a dreamy look on her face as she thought of Aine and their first meeting.

"Uh..I.. sorry.. my mind wandered a bit. So I take it all three of you are friends, right? Don't worry about the next time, I like to treat." she said as she leaned over the table trying to understand the menu, which of course she knew nothing on it, for Eanna's sake where is the Jia-Jia tea!

 

"Heh careful, someone moit take advantage'a tha' if yeh keep offerin' t' pay." Maeve laughed, looking over the menu. Hmm, what was she in the mood for? Definitely something sweet. 

"Guess it's a good thin' I gave yeh th' flier fer th' Sirens' show then, eh? I think it'd be a great way fer yeh t' meet new people. We don' have much'a fanbase yet, but we will!" She paused, unsure whether she should tell the truth here, then decided it would be best to. 

"Well... Sib'n I're best friends, known each othah fer almost ten years now. But... Aine an' I don' really get along..." She played with her pendant again, worrying her lip. Aine snorted, and would have given Maeve a sardonic look if she could.

 "Really? Why don't you get along with her, I mean, I don't mean to pry. Aine has always been so nice to me, it's kinda of hard to think she wouldn't get along with everyone, plus she's very sweet." she said as a slight pink hue began to show on her face but it was quickly pulled back as she reminded herself Aine had been acting distant towards her.

She looked at Maeve playing with her pendant wondering why she was doing that, almost like she was nervous about something.

 "It's... complicated" Maeve finally said, unable to look Rin in the eyes. Aine blinked, astonished at how highly Rin thought of her. She'd been giving her space after that night when Circi had taken control, afraid that her madness would take hold and hurt the girl again. But... If this was the case then... 

Does she have feelings for me? 

Maeve blinked, her eyes darting up to Rin's face. The faint blush, the way she'd been so quick to defend Aine... 

"Yeh loike her, don' yeh?"

"Uh..uh.Like you said it's complicated. I..well.. don't know. I think at this point me and Aine are friends. She's been avoiding me lately and well like Arisu said no point in waiting for the sun to come out when you can light the sky yourself." she laughed halfheartedly not really believing her own motivational speech.

"Besides I always believe everyone has a good side to them whether they believe themselves or not." she said as she hurriedly dived into her menu, trying to figure out how to get out of that awkward question.

* Way to go you dummy! Now she probably thinks your nothing but a flirty little tart! Oh god can this get anymore embarrassing?*

"Friends...?" Maeve looked away, her hands shaking slightly. 

Aine, why is she so trustin' of yeh?

I... don't know. She shouldn't be. Aine's voice was sad, despondent. She knew she was slowly going mad, slowly becoming more and more corrupted. And only Elation seemed to bring out the best in her... So why would Rin think that Aine was good, with what she'd done? 

And why did Aine feel like her old self now? 

"Maybe... it's a good thin' th' two'a yeh are friends." Maeve said softly, looking at the menu once more. 

 

"Pssttttttt... hey Maeve! What's a muffin?" she whispered and asked quite earnestly and with much interest of whatever this thing was that was called a muffin.

Maeve blinked, before she started giggling. 

"Yeh've nevah had a muffin afore?! Yeh're missin' out!!" She grinned and flagged down the waiter, ordering a blueberry muffin and black currant one, two cups of tea (passion fruit for Rin, earl grey for herself), and a plate of lemon bars. 

"Basically, a muffin's a type'a baked good, sorta loike a spongy cake in consistency I guess. I think yeh'll loike it! Blueberry's th' go-to one, but I looooove black currants, so yeh can try both an' see which one yeh loike more!"

 

Rin pouted a little at getting laughed out, but her excitement outgrew it, at her delight of trying something new.
" I think I shall try The Blue Berry." She gingerly lifted the muffin and took a smile bite, and it tasted so gooooooooooooooooooodd. Oh for the love of...Rin has been moved to tears by the sweet deliciousness of the Muffin.
"Oh my. This is the best tasting thing in the world, nay the universe. God bless whoever invented the muffin." she said as she literally purred with contentment as she nomed away at her muffin until every single crumb was gone

 

Maeve bit into her own black currant muffin, only to nearly choke at Rin's reaction. She grinned, covering her mouth with a hand so she didn't accidentally spit out her food. 

"Oh. My God. Yeh're utterly adorable, yeh know tha?" Aine giggled as she watched, agreeing completely. Her eyes danced as she cut off a good part of her muffin and handed it to Rin. "Here, part'a moine."

 

"Are you sure? I don't want to seem like a glutton, but the muffin was so gooodd!" she said as she was about to reach for it, until she looked out the window and saw it was getting dark, and she dropped her hand back down.
" I think I should be going now, it's getting dark and I'm sure Arisu will come out to find me soon." she said as she wiped her hands on the napkin and folded it back onto the table. She stood up from the table, and her anxiety of the night made her go back to being timid and unsure of what to do next.
"Maybe we can hang out again soon?" she asked hopefully.

 "Yeah, accourse." Maeve's brow furrowed, standing up as well. She'd done that last time as well, when she and Aine had first met... 

For once, Aine and Maeve's souls aligned in their genuine confusion and concern.

"Why are yeh so afraid of th' night, Rin?" She asked quietly, but her voice was layered with both her own and Aine's.